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Hideki Kamiya Is Happy To Work With Capcom Again

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In a recent interview talking about the upcoming title Scalebound for Xbox One, the game’s director Hideki Kamiya also had some very kind words to say about his former employer.

As he explains, "I can honestly say that if there’s ever an opportunity, that makes sense for me or the studio, to work with Capcom again I would very much welcome that opportunity. Of all the publishers, not just Japanese publishers or partners, I can say with confidence that Capcom still holds a very, very special place in my heart and I love them dearly. It’s one of my favorite companies."

"And why I say that is because they really helped shape me to who I am today. I spent a long amount of time with them and they helped me grow into who I am. They are one of the few remaining companies in Japan… you know we’ve seen so many other companies being merged and bought out and acquired but they remain the Capcom that they started out as. So seeing that strength and power that still is Capcom today is very reassuring. And it shows the confidence, it shows the love and passion of what they do. So I really do welcome the opportunity to work with Capcom again."

Kamiya worked at Production Studio 4 and then the Clover division within Capcom and helped to set up Platinum Games in 2006 when Capcom decided to merge Clover with their internal research and development divisions.

During that time he worked on games from Devil May Cry to Okami and Viewtiful Joe, among many others.

What’s interesting about all this is that normally developers tend not to hold their former employers in high regard, especially when they disband the studio you were a part of.

Now whether this is a ruse by Kamiya to help source more work from Capcom is not clear. Though to be honest that’s not entirely beyond the realms of possibility, as studios need financial support from publishers especially when they are as large as Platinum Games.

However I genuinely think there is more to this than just a cynical bit of maneuvering to get more investment.

Especially as I know that people within Capcom also still hold Kamiya in high regard and that is something that almost never happens in Japan, as when you leave a company you are almost thought of as betraying your family.

It’s likely why Kamiya also recently reacted very vociferously to Keiji Inafune and his new game Mighty No. 9, as he still feels Capcom is a familial connection and that Inafune betrayed that maybe.

That said, video games are still a business and Kamiya wouldn’t have survived this long if he didn’t get that. So paying respect to one of the biggest publishers in Japan is definitely worth doing if you want to get more work.

Either way I hope that Capcom respond in kind and give more work to Platinum Games, as at the very least it will help to keep the studio alive and I for one want to see more of what they have to offer.

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